Preacher David's Corner

“Pre-One Hundred Thirty - Fourth Annual Meeting of the Ashe Baptist Association” 

The Executive Committee of the Ashe Baptist Association has approved unanimously to have a one-day Annual Meeting on Saturday, August 15 beginning at 9:00 AM and ending at approximately 12:00 with lunch provided. Beaver Creek Baptist Church, on the Mullatto Mountain Road, will be our host. They have a new Fellowship Hall with lots of room and will have picnic tables available if you want to eat outside. Rev. Johnny Goodman is the pastor. The Executive Committee recommends only two folks from each church attend, pastor and one representative. This is a one time exception from our constitution due to COVID-19. The Friday session will not be held due to COVID-19. Hopefully next year we will be back on track. As always, COVID-19 recommendations will be in place so as to remain as healthy as possible. I think we all have the 3-W’s memorized, wear a mask, wait six feet and wash your hands often. If you are scheduled to attend that day and are not feeling well please stay at home, for your safety and the safety of others, and send someone in your place. We understand. Masks are optional inside the church especially if you are observing social distancing. We currently have 16 active cases of COVID-19 in Ashe County out of 27,000 folks at the time of this writing. That is not bad but we would like to see that number even lower. Please pray for those affected. If you have questions or concerns please let us know. Our theme this year is “We are in This Together”. Our text is; 1 Corinthians 3:9 which shares with us, “For we are laborers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building”. Our front cover shows two men mowing with a horse drawn mowing machine working together getting the job of mowing hay done “together” . I remember those days when my Dad and I and neighbors worked together to get hay ready to feed during the winter time. As Ashe Baptist Association of Churches works together, we are to be about the Father’s business. We must work with everyone who will join in for the cause of Christ working together doing what we cannot do alone. I try to work with all denominations, because if they know Christ they are my brother/sister. I even work with folks who are not Christians in an effort to promote the cause of Christ and hope that “lifestyle evangelism” will lead them to the Saviour! COVID-19 challenges us to work even harder and not give up as some folks have. At the Annual meeting Rev. Homer Murdock is scheduled to bring our message with Rev. Lawrence Goodman as the alternate. Brother Homer is the pastor of God’s Will Baptist Church in Sparta, which is a member of the Ashe Baptist Association. He was here a few years ago as pastor of Trinity Baptist Church and South Fork Baptist Church. We are thankful to have him back in the mountains. Some of the Bluff Mountain Boys will be doing the special singing. Music will be led by Mr. David Phillips and the songs will be in the Book of Reports. Mr. Butch Miller will play the piano. We have scheduled reports from Ashe Really Cares, Disciple Making, the Treasurer, Budget Chairman, Ashe Baptist Campground committee, Guidestone, Ashe Pregnancy Care Center, Historian Report, Baptist Men, Director of Missions and Gideons International. Also included will be presentations of accomplishments of churches and our Memorial Service. Other reports may be added that I do not have at this time. Business will be conducted as needed. Our Moderator will be Mr. Jerry Powers and our Vice Moderator will be Mr. Joe Brown. I hope that you will pray for the Annual Meeting and plan to attend if you are chosen by the church where you are a member. I feel we will be safe and look forward to God’s Holy Spirit speaking to me about the fact that “we are in this together”! If you come, I will buy your lunch that day! After all , we are in this together!                                                 Your Servant, David